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Original poster

So feb up tempted to pull out of school!

86 replies

Tinydancer321 · 25/10/2021 01:42

I have 4 Kids, 2 older (1 primary 1 secondary) as a den school. Have not caught any bugs from school and school taking Covid seriously.
I also have another primary child in mainstream and and a 2 week old baby.
Primary child daughter is in year 1, every 2 weeks has daughter another bug, currently on bug number 4! The school are not taking Covid seriously at all, kids are going in with coughs and temps and the school are saying nothing even had a harvest festival in a hall full of parents coughing too. Most parents at the schools very un bothered about
Covid.
My daughter again is very poorly high temp, sore throat.
My 2 week old actually ended up with bronchiolitis and we are just getting over it (caught from my primary daughter) who needed hospital now we have another bug in the house.
I’m now poorly too.
I’m so tempted to pull her from school there must be more to life than catching illness after illness.
In 6 weeks she has caught 4 bugs, and had 3 pcrs (the other parents don’t bother testing).
Clearly Covid will rip through the school, already lots of parents have sent their kids when they have had Covid and not tested the kids as it only says “should”. Most
Parents at the schools have good jobs and won’t take time off so send their kids in poorly. The school only care about their attendance records. I feel so torn. I hate keep seeing her so poorly! She has had no let up. Now half term and we will be doing nothing fun as we are poorly
Again.

OP posts:
Oysterbabe · 25/10/2021 06:44

Kids that haven't spent time in another childcare setting will get ill A LOT for the first 6 months or so of school. It will settle down.
How do you know the other parents aren't testing or that the kids have covid when they haven't been tested? As your kid's negative tests show, it's just normal winter bugs.

supercalifragilistic123 · 25/10/2021 06:47

We went through this with my DS he was constantly ill for the first 6 months. Now in year 2 he's barely had anything since.

firef1y · 25/10/2021 06:51

Guess what, your children are catching so many illnesses because they've had 18months of less than normal exposure to all those coughs and colds and so their immune system is now playing catch up

WholeClassKeptIn · 25/10/2021 06:51

This often happens when they first start preschool/nursery as they encounter bugs they're not used to. Now it's happening as people haven't been in circulation properly for a long time. Normally children catch winter bugs and colds. I believe it helps strengthen their immune system for the following year (I think?).

As for covid it seems likely it will seeep through all schools if it hasn't already. Not much that can stop that happenjng tbf.

Remmy123 · 25/10/2021 07:12

Take your kids out of school and do what with them?? Keep them away from anywhere that has germs?

This is a direct result of them having been in lockdown for many months.

Get them all a good multi vitamin and keep them In school.

ArthurTudor · 25/10/2021 07:16

The dfe won't count covid related sickness, or isolation, in their stats so the school aren't worried about their attendance stats from that point of view. The school will be submitting info on covid and non covid related absence to them.

If you are worried about safety measures then speak to the head. I personally wouldn't pull her out. Surely this sickness is partially linked to low immunity to bugs given lockdown. Wouldn't pulling her out just delay the inevitable?

OliveTree75 · 25/10/2021 07:16

Kids are bombarded with bugs every winter regardless. It seems worse this year because they had less exposure last year.

kateg27 · 25/10/2021 07:17

There are lots of illnesses that an involve a cough, not just covid. My Dd14 has a bad cough at the moment, with tonsillitis.
My older two children are 14 and 12 and they always had lots Of bugs after the summer holidays, it's normal this time of year and this was prior to Abu covid.
You also have to remember we've not had the opportunity to build up any immune system this past 18 months due to the lockdowns. We were warned about the childhood winter illnesses, it's been in the news and well publicised.

Firesidefox · 25/10/2021 07:17

This is normal. You have four children, of course they're going to catch bugs.

randomsabreuse · 25/10/2021 07:18

My DD started school twice due to a change in location and therefore cut offs. School 1 (pre Covid) all the bugs, every barely had a full week all year, many trips to A&E for unstoppable vomiting failing fluid challenge.

School 2, last year, no vomiting bugs at all, 1 or 2 fevers. Only difference is that they were taught how to wash hands and use hand gel regularly...

So I'd check your DD is washing hands well and suggest that school make a game of handwashing using a stamp to be washed off!

Tillymintpolo · 25/10/2021 07:19

You’re making a lot of judgements about the school and other parents. Sniffles, colds and bugs are totally normal at this time of year.

lynntheyresexpeople · 25/10/2021 07:20

You're being ridiculous to be honest. Kids catch bugs, mine have been the same. What's the alternative? Send them to another school, where they will also catch things - or keep them at home? The reason they are getting it full blast at the moment is because they've spent 18 months will less exposure. Keeping them in will just make it worse for the next time you let them out.

Katya213 · 25/10/2021 07:25

My daughter was like this pre covid to the point I lost my job. Some kids are prone to bugs more than others, my daughter still is. The only virus we haven't had is covid in which im in disbelief because we get everything!

Warhertisuff · 25/10/2021 07:29

So Covid hasn't swept through the school, and she's getting lots of other bugs, so it doesn't seem like parents are obviously being blaze with Covid precautions... That's life I'm afraid - kids get ill with stuff. It's not nice for the kids, and a pain for you, but short of wrapping them in cotton wool,
you've got to accept it.

I think Covid has accentuated those who have an unrealistically zero tolerance towards germs, and live with a perpetual anxiety of them, despite not being CEV.

SisterJude · 25/10/2021 07:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SpinsForGin · 25/10/2021 07:41

Your post is just dripping with judgement.

Kids pick up bugs at school. This year is worse because people haven't been exposed to the usual bugs due to reduced social contact.
It will settle down.

PhoboPhobia · 25/10/2021 07:48

As per most other posters, it is very normal for kids to catch everything going in the first few months of school.

Covid aside, schools have always put on events in winter, school halls full of people with coughs and colds. The kids soon build up their immunity.

I’m sorry your little one has been so poorly but pulling your eldest out of school is only going to work for so long. When she goes back, it will start all over again until she builds up her resistance.

KingsleyShacklebolt · 25/10/2021 07:54

On you go then, your kids, your choice. Not sure why you're searching for approval, cheerleading or whatever on MN. Bit arrogant to think that you can do as good a job as a trained teacher for 4 kids at different stages of their education though.

fedupofthesamest · 25/10/2021 07:54

My children have had cold after cold since being back at school. Unfortunately it's one of them things that most children will pick up bugs a lot for the next few months.

Shelovesamystery · 25/10/2021 07:55

Back to school illnesses are standard. And it's obviously going to be much worse this year because our immune systems are rubbish thanks to lockdowns/social distancing. I think you have really unrealistic expectations tbh.

2reefsin30knots · 25/10/2021 07:56

I think OP means the older 2 are at a SEN school, hence making the point that the one who is catching a lot of bugs is the only one in mainstream.

OP, I don't think this is down to your mainstream school being negligent with hygiene, your DD probably just has many more contacts. I run AP/RP within mainstream and our specialist classes are the ONLY ones in the school with no cases of covid ever. I think this is down to the children having far fewer prolonged contacts. That said, this cold-just-like-covid ripped round us and a number of the children were quite poorly with that. I think the staff brought that in though.

ArthurTudor · 25/10/2021 07:56

Some of these posters could make their point without being nasty. The OP has a two week old who required hospital treatment - of course she's tetchy. She's probably also getting hardly any sleep

MarshaBradyo · 25/10/2021 07:58

What will you do? Homeschool?

Just make sure you have the resources and motivation for your dd to do well out of school

JuneOsborne · 25/10/2021 08:02

That must have been scary, a brand new baby with bronchiolitis. I'm not surprised you're thinking the way you are.

But, school is the best place for her. They may not seem to be taking it seriously, but they're probably following the guidelines, so they can't do much else.

Does everyone take a multivitamin?

I'm not sure what else to suggest. I just wanted to say that I get that you just be rally fed up.

Hope the baby's better soon.

CyclingIsNotOuting · 25/10/2021 08:02

@OliveTree75

Kids are bombarded with bugs every winter regardless. It seems worse this year because they had less exposure last year.
I was coming on to say something similar. The older ones have already had exposure in previous years. The younger ones have spent a good year away from other children. Unfortunately this is the consequence. If it’s any consolation my DC’s school is taking covid extremely seriously. Still has all measures in place including masks for teachers, one way system, class bubbles and believe me, they send them home for a PCR at the slightest sign of a cough or temp. It still has a load of positive covid cases and my DC have caught bug after bug since September.